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CHAPTER IV. 



1765-1773- 



Protests by the Citizens of Philadelphia 
against Taxation by the Parliament of 
Great Britain. "^ ^ ^ Public Meeting 
ill the State Hotise Yard to enforce the 
retztrn of the ^' dutied Tea!' 



AGAIN, in October, 1773, on the IGth, an m^mense public meeting 
was held in the State House Yard. It was called in consequence 
of the effort made by the East India Company to force upon the good 
people of Philadelphia tea which had aceuraulated in immense quanti- 
ties in their warehouses in London, owing to the absolute refusal of the 
Americans themselves to import. 

The direct effect of the action of the merchants of Pliiladelphia, 
followed as it was by those of New York, \\\\\ indeed throughout the 
colonics, in adopting and enforcing "Non-Importation Resolutions," had 
produced the repeal of the odious "Stam[) Act," though simultaneously 
with that repeal, Parliament had sullenly passed an act declaring: 
" That the said Colonics and plantations in America have been} are, and 
" of right ought to he subordinate unto and dependent upon the Imperial 
" crown and Parliamcid of Great Britain, and that the King's Majc.sti/, bt/ 



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*' and with the adtnce and consent of the Lords, spiritual and temporal, and 
" commons of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled, had, hath, and of 
" right ought to have full power and aidhority to make laws and statutes of 
" suficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America^ 
"subjects of the Crown 0/ Great Britain, in all cases ichatsoever." 

Many months were allowed to elapse, liowever, ere any attempt was 
made to exercise that power — when suddenly in 1767, an act was passed 
for imposing duties on glass, paper, painters' colors, and tea — the duties 
were trifling, but the discussions incident to the Stamp Act had opened 
the eyes of the colonists, generally, to their rights as freemen under the 
Constitution of England. In the guise of a plain farmer, John Dick- 
inson, by a series of letters published in the newspapers, clearly demon- 
strated the necessity of resisting the imposition of a tax by the British 
Parliament, and pointed out that a free people are not those over whom 
only a government is reasonably and equitably exercised, but those who 
live under a government so constitutionally checked and controlled, 
that its exercise otherwise is rendered impossible. These letters, reprinted 
in book form, not only in America, but also in Great Britain, were ably 
seconded by the newspapers and by the decisive action of the merchants 
and traders throughout the country, and produced the repeal of this act, 
though an exception was still made by Pai'liament. That exception was the 
duty on tea, an article that even then had become a necessity, and 
had yielded to the East India Company £130,000, sterling, per annum. 
Relying upon the importance of this beverage, and ajiparently believing 
that, by reducing it.s price, the technical claim of " right to tax America," 
could continue to be made, an export duty was actually taken off, while 
a smaller duty on importation into the colonies was imposed, and even 
this was attempted to be covered up by requiring the payment in Eng- 
land, thus to the consumers the cost apparently was alone increased. The 
Americans were not to be taken unawares, nor yet to be overcome by 
the bribe; they detected the "snake in the grass," and forthwith set 
about crushing its head. 

The news which reached Philadelphia at the end of September gave 
rise to an unprecedented commotion among the inhabitants, and, possibly 
to the now well-known expression of " a tempest in the tea pot," for to 
such "base uses" may the most solemn events be subservient. The 
Philadelphia papers teem with addresses to the Commissioners and to 



the Public. Pi-obably the most able is from Sorevola, in ilu* Pcnnsjjlrania 
Chronicle, of the lltli October. The Boston papers took up the refrain, 
and, on the 14th of the same montli, "express the same sentiments in 
regard to the tea exjx?cte(l from London as the people of New York and 
Philadelphia, whose conduct they highly apin'ove and stronglv urge 
their countrymen to imitate. The masters of aH their London vessels, 
too, they expect, like those of New York and Philadel])hia, will n-liise 
to briu"; any tea to America while tlip dutv remains."* 



*In Boston, on 3rcl November, a mi'Ctini,' was luld at " Liberty Tree," to enforce 
the resignation of the consignees of the tea intended for tliat city, whicli pixived inef- 
fective, but resulted in another on oth November, when the Hon. .lohn Hancock, Ksq., 
was chosen moderator, and at wliich it was — 

'' Bcsolved, That the sense of this town cannot be better expressed than in the words of 
certain judicious resolves, lately entered into by our worthy brethren, tlie citizens of Phila- 
delphia." Here follow the resolves of the citizens op Philad'a, of Octobek 

16Tir, PRECEDING, AS OIVEN IN THE TEXT. 1t IS ESPECIALLY NOTKWORTJIY THAT 
THE HANDSOME COMPLIMENT THUS AND THEN PAID TO THE CITY OF PhILAD'a, IS TC- 
DAY RETURNED IN KIND, HV THE SELECTION FOR COMMEMORATION — AS THE SALIIOT 
EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE DEFEAT OF THE " TeA ScHEME "—OF THE PATRIOTIC 
ACTION OF THE BoSTONIANS. 

At this meeting it was also, — " Besolred, that it is the deten>iin<i(ion of this town by 
all means in their power, to prevent the sale of the teas exported by the East India 
Company," &c., &c. The Messrs. Clarke, Messrs. Faneuil & Winslow, as wall as the 
Hutchinsons, all consignees of the tea, were evasive in their responses sent to this meet- 
ing, which declared them to be "daringly afTrontive to the town." A renewal of a de- 
mand for their resignations at another meeting held on 18th Novemlier, also resulted 
in an equivocal reply, which was voted " not satistactory." 

On the 28th, the ship Dartmouth, Capt. Hall, eight weeks from London, with 114 
chests of the long expected and much talked of tea, " actually arrived and anchored at 
the Long Wharf"; immediately appeared a notifieation for every friend of his 
country, to himself and to posterity, to meet at Faneuil Hall, to take action in the 
premises — but Faneuil Hall proved to small too hold the multitude which answered 
thecal], and an adjournment was had to the "Old South Meeting House,"— where 
the sense of the meeting was declared. "That it is the firm resolution of this body, that the 
tea shall not only be sent back in the same bottom, but that no duty shall be paid thereon." 
As the consignees had professed a desire to give satisfaction to the town, tiie meeting 
" out of great tenderness to these persons, notwith.stiiiiding the time hitherto expen- 
ded upon them to no purpose," adjourned over till the next day, the 30th November, in 
order to receive reply, but that proving no more satisfactory, promises were extorted 
from the Captain of the vessel, then in port, as well as the owner, and eflectually to 
secure their compliance, a watch was then appointed tor the Dartmouth, as well as for 
the expected vessel.s,to which equally they determined their resolutions should aj>ply; then 
pledging each other to carry their votes and resolutions into exvcution at the ri.s<pie 



The following spirited resolutions were adopted at the meeting of 
16th October, above referred to, at the State House, and appeared in the 
public prints on the 18th : 

" Resolved, That the disposal of their own property is the inherent 
right of freemen ; that there can be no property in that which another 



1 



of their lives, they peaceably adjoiiined, after thanking those who came from the ad- 
joining towns for their countenance and union with this body in this exigence of our 
affairs," and also Jona AVilliams, Esq., who presided as moderator at this meeting. 

A few days afterwards arrived the " Eleanor," Capt. Bruce, with 116 chests, and 
then the " Beaver," Capt. Coffin, with 114 chests of tea. A caution was posted up 
throughout the town, that the granting of a permit to land, while it would betray an inhu- 
man thirst for blood, would also in a great measure accelerate confusion and civil war. 
No effortwasmadeto land the tea, the consignees themselves having taken refuge in "the 
castle," but egress from the Harbor was denied, and the alternative of destruction to the 
tea alone presented itself to the Patriots. At the meeting held on 16th December, — pro- 
longed till candles were brought in — this fact became apparent, when suddenly from 
the gallery of the " Old South," the war whoop was raised by a person disguised as a 
Mohawk Indi-m, and a crv — "Boston Harbor a Tea Pot to-night !" and Hurrah for 
" Griffin's Wharf I" A significant motion to adjourn was immediately put, and carried, 
and the populace streamed to the place of rendezvous. A score or more disguised in 
sort of mongrel Indian costume, with faces blackened, accompanied by a posse of fifty, 
boarded the three vessels without molestation, and having broken open the boxes of 
tea with their "tomahawks," cast the contents into the water, and then dispersed quietly 
to their homes. 

In New York, intimation was received as early as October 11th, of the consignment 
of tea to that port, and on the 15th, at a meeting at the Coffee House, grateful 
thanks were rendered to the patriotic merchants and masters of vessels in London, for 
refusing to receive from the East India Company on freight a quantity of tea, &c., in 
strong contrast with which, one Wm. Kelley, late of New York, and designated as in- 
famous, who had undertaken to advise the sending of the tea to New York, and " the 
cramming the tea down the throats of his fellow-citizens," was hung and burnt in effigy 
at the Coffee House, with appropriate labels and insignia to indicate the contempt of 
the people, and the fate that awaited him personally if caught. An association termed 
the Sons of Liberty, was formed, and at a meeting at City Hall, on 29th of November, re- 
solutions were passed similar to those of Philadelphia and Boston, with which cities 
they perfectly concurred, and rejecting ihe proposition then made by the government, of 
landing the tea and placing it in the Fort, while a warning to the citizens appeared, 
under the favorite pseudonym of the "Mohawks," against presuming even "to let their 
stores for the reception of the infernal chains," thus sought to be imposed upon the 
colonists. 

Notwithstanding, however, this opposition and that of thegood people of Charleston 
the tea was landed at both places, but stored under the protection of the authorities, the 
consignees having refused to receive it. The firm stand taken by the citizens rendered 
it dangerous to attempt to expose it for sale, and it is believed none was sold. 



can, ot right, take from us without our consent; that the claim of Par- 
liament to tax America is, in other words, a claim of right to levy con- 
tributions on us at pleasure. 

2. That the duty imposed by Parliament uj)on tea hmded in America 
is a tax on the Americans, or levying contributions on them without 
their consent. 

3. That the express pur})()sc for which the tax is levied on the 
Americans, namely, for the support of government, administration of 

justice, and defence of his Majesty's dominions in America, has a direct 
tendency to render Assemblies useless, and to introdufte arbitrary gov- 
ernment and slavery. 

4. That a virtuous and steady opposition lo this Ministerial plan of 
governing America is absohitely necessary to preserve even the shadow 
of liberty, and is a duty which every freeman in America owes to his 
country, to himself, and to his posterity. 

5. That the resolution lately entered into by the East India Com- 
pany to send out their tea to America, subject to the payment of duties 
on its being landed here, is an open attempt to enforce this Ministerial 
plan, and a violent attack upon the liberties of America. 

6. That it is the duty of every American to oppose this attempt. 

7. That whoever shall, directly or indirectly, countenance this 
attempt, or in any wise aid or abet in unloading, receiving, or vending 
the tea sent or to be sent out by the East India Com})any, while it re- 
mains subject to the payment of a duty here, is an enemy of his 
country. 

8. That a committee be immediately chosen to wait on those gentle- 
men who, it is reported, are appointed by the East India Company to 
receive and sell said tea, and request them, from a regard to their own 
characters, and the peace and good order of the city and province, im- 
mediately to resign their appointment." 

The East India Company, finding it impossible to induce the 
Americans themselves to import or even to receive the tea as freight on 
board of ships belonging to the American ports, in collusion with the 
Ministry, set about chartering vessels for the purpose, having determined 
in tiie language of the day " to cram the tea down the throats " of the 
colonists. These vessels were consigned to different parties in Boston, 
New York, Philadelphia and Charleston. Notice of the actual sailing, 
on the 27th of September, of the ship with its cargo of tea intended lor 



Philadelphia, was publicly given in the papers of the first clay of Do- 
cembcr, and, as it was then hourly expected, the " Americans " were 
urged to " be wise^— be virtuous." On the 27th of September the self- 
constituted Committee for Tarring and Feathering had issued handbills 
of the most friendly kind to the pilots on the Delaware river, admon- 
ishing tliem : " Do your duty if perchance you should meet with tlie 
(tea) ship Polly, Captain Ayres," and followed it up, as the vessel was 
actually reported off Cape May, by an address to the aforesaid captain, 
which, after a warning to desist from any effort to approach the city 
with his vessel, plainly promises, in case of his persistence : " A halter 
around your neck, ten gallons of liquid tar scattered on your pate, with 
the feathers of a dozen wild geese laid over that to enliven your ap- 
pearance." In the meantime demands were made upon the conniiis- 
sioners to refuse the consignment. Equivocal responses were at first 
made by some, but finally they all yielded. A card, addressed to 
Messrs. James & Drinker, probably received no direct response. Tliese 
gentlemen, however, had united with their fellow-citizens in protesting 
against the stamp act, and both had signed the non-importation resolu- 
tions of 1765; it is not likely, therefore, that such omission proceeded 
from any want of patriotism.* The card is still extant. 



A CARD. 
'J^HE PUBLIC prefent their Compliments to Meffieurs JAMES 
AND DRINKER. We are informed that you have this day 
received your commiffion to enflave your native Country; and, 
as your frivolous Plea of having received no Advice, relative 
to the fcandalous Part you were to act, in the Tea-Scheme, can 
no longer ferve your purpofe, nor divert our Attention, we ex- 
pect and defire you will immediately inform the Public, by a 
Line or two to be left at the Coffee House, Whether you will, 
or will not, renounce all Pretenfions to execute that Commif- 
fion? — THAT We may govern ourselves accordingly. 
Philadelphia, December 2, 1773. 



*Abel James, the head of the firm of James & Drinker, who occupied the liouse of 
his fatlier-in-law, Thomas Chalkley, immediately on the wharves, as represented in 
the ohl painting of Philadelphia by Peter Cooper, was waited upon by a crowd of 
citizens, and in response to a demand for his resignation then and there made, he gave 
the guarantee of his word and property that the tea should not be landed, but that the 
ship should go back to England; then pointing to his young daughter Rebecca, who 
stood near him, perched on the head of one of her father's hogsheads, he pledged her 



The strenuous measures thus taken in Philadelpliia in anticipation 
were justified by the news received, December 24th, from Boston of 
what had there occurred ; the announcement was made in an extra of 
that date : 

Friday Evening, 5 o'clock. 

" Yesterday, [December 16th), we had a greater meeting of this body 
than ever, the country coming in from twenty mites round, and every step 
was taken that was practicable for returning the teas. The moment it was 
known out of doors that Mr. Ixotch coxdd not obtain a pass for his ship by 
the castle, (on (he outward voyage), a number of people huzza\l in the street 
and in a very little time every ounce of the teas on board of Capts. Hall, 
Bruce, and Coffm was immersed in the bay, without the least injury to 
private property. The spirit of the people on this occasion surprised all 
parties who viewed the scene. 

We conceived it to be our duty to afford you the most early advice of 
this interesting event by express, which, departing immediately, obliges us 
to conclude. 

" By order of the committee." 

" P. S. — The other vessel, viz : Captain Loring, belonging to Messrs. 
Clark, with fifty-eight chests, was, by the act of G od, cast ashore on the 
back of Cape Cod.^' 

On Christmas-day, an express conveying intelligence of the arrival 
at Chester of the long-expected ship "Polly" reached Philadelphia. 
Immediately committees were dispatched to the commander. They suc- 
ceeded in intercepting him at Gloucester Point, and, requiring him to 
come on shore, represented the general sentiments of the people, and de- 
sired him to accompany them to town to ascertain for himself their 
temper and resolution. 

Yielding to their wishes, he reached Philadelphia in the evenino-. 
An announcement appeared the next morning, December 27th, at nine 
o'clock. 

" The tea ship having arrived, every inhabitant who wishes to preserve 
the liberty of America is desired to meet at the State House, this morn- 
ing, precisely at ten o'clock, to consider what is best to be done in this 
alarming crisis." 

(a vivum vadium) to the fulfilment of his promise. This young girl in after veara 
married John Thompson, and was the grandmother of (besides several esteemed Phila- 
delphians of the same name) John T. and George T. Lewis, gentlemen so well 
known on the wharves neighboring the transaction above related, and so esteemed as to 
need no pledycs of any kind to fortify to their fellow-citizens their simple word of 
honor. 



The crowd assembled, tlioiigh upon notice of an hour only, is said 
to have been the largest ever, up to that time, c/)llected, and the building 
being found inadequate, an adjournment to the Square took place. The 
resolutions tliat were adopted, were concise and peremj>tory : 

"Resolved. 1. That the tea on. board the ship "Polly," Captain Ayres, 
shall not be landc<l. 

2. That Captain Ayres shall neither enter, nor report his vessel at 
the custom-house. 

3. That Cai)tain Ayres shall carry back the tea, immediately. 

4. That Captain Ayres shall immediately send a pilot on board his 
vessel, with orders to take charge of her, and to proceed to Reedy Island 
next high water. 

5. That the captain shall be allowed to stay in town till to-morrow, 
to provide necessaries for his voyage. 

6. That he shall then be obliged to leave town and proceed to his 

vessel, and make the best of his Wciy out of our river and bay. 

7. That a committee of four gentlemen be appointed to see these re- 
solves carried into execution." 

The meeting was then informed of the spirit and resolution shown 
upon this subject by the people of Boston, New York and Charleston, 
whereupon it was unanimously. 

Resolved, That this assembly highly approve of the conduct and 
spirit of the people of New York, Charleston, and Boston, and return 
their hearty thanks to the people of Boston [for their resolution in de- 
stroying the tea, rather than suifer it to be landed. 

Though it was computed at the time that there were nearly eight 
thousand persons present at this meeting, the business was conducted 
with a degree of order and decorum which showed that the importance 
of the cause was duly felt. 

Captain Ayres having been called out, pledged himself that the 
public wishes should be complied with, and the very next day, he was 
respectfully attended to the wharf of Messrs. James & Drinker by a 
concourse of people, who wished him a good voyage, and, "Thus," says 
a contemporary account, " this important affair, in Avhich there has been 
so glorious an exertion of public virtue and spirit, has been brought to a 
happy issue, by which the force of a la^', so obstinately persisted in to 
the prejudice of the national commerce, for the sake of the principle 
upon which it is founded, (a right of taxing the Americans without their 
consent) has been effectually broken, and the foundations of American 
liberty more deeply laid than ever." 



1 



AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT 

OF I I lie 



Old ^ikt^ Hoti^e of l^eni^^ylvknik, 

NOW KNOWN AS 

THE HALL OF INDEPENDENCE. 

BY FRANK M. ETTING. 

TO BE PUBLISHED BY SUBSCRIPTION IN SIX NUMBERS 

AT FIFTY CENTS PER NUMBER, 

And illustrated by Views and Autographs, to.the extent, and in the manner, 
allowed by subscriptions received. 



Mk. Etting has sought absolutely to restore this Historical Hall to 
•its general appearance in 1776, and to illustrate within its walls, in chrono- 
logical order, the different epochs of our national history. In accomplishing 
this wish, he has evolved much information, in regard not only to the vener- 
ated building itself, but to the events that transpired UNDER ITS ROOF, 
.AND IN THE ADJOINING SQUARE. 

These events, well worthy of commemoration by the citizens of Phila- 
delphia at all times, seem essential to the due appreciation of that epoch, 
whose Centennial is to be here celebrated. 



SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEIVED BY 

S.(^Iiv^TJEI_. IP. TO'VsTlSr, 

No. 402 LIP.RARY STREET. 




Mutual life Imra!iGsC:iii;aQy of EostoD. 

Braacli Olce. 150 SontH Fonrtli St.. PHILAD'A, 



Organized in 1862. 



And having Assets amounting to 



$2,500,000. 



The "John Hancock" is a Massachusetts company, and is strictly mutual. 

Its policy holders are protected by the laws of that Commonwealth, and especially 
by the noted Non Forfeiture Laio, under which a life policy, a-^'e 30, upon which one an- 
nual payment only has been made, is continued in force for 329 days from the date at 
which the second premium became due but Avas unpaid ; the same policy, with four 
annual payments made, is continued in force for three years and 259 days from the date 
at Avhich the fifth annual payment became due but was unpaid, the company being of 
course entitled to the forborne or unpaid premiums. 

These two examples abundantly prove the importance and value of this beneficent 
law of Massachusetts. 

The yoimg merchant, whose life was insured in companies chartered by other 
States, who unfortunately was ruined by the great fire in Boston, in view of bis inability 
to pay his premiums w/ten due, very naturally exclaimed, 

"I WISH I WAS INSUKED IN THE "JOHN HANCOCK.' " 

Let those who contemplate efiecting insurance upon their lives, profit by such ex- 
perience, and secure the benefits conferred by the " John Hancock." 



ALFRED R. POTTER, Gen'l Ag't. 

No. 150 South Fourth Street. 



H 33 89 1^ 




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